“Why are you still panting?” Jiang Xiaohuai’s voice trembled as he spoke to Bai Li, his back turned to her.
“I… feel strange… Thankfully, I only activated a little bit…” Bai Li’s voice was small, then she grumbled softly, “What a waste…”
“Then how about you drink it back yourself?”
Bai Li raised her calf and fiercely kicked Jiang Huai’s back with annoyance, “You’re so perverted!”
“I’m just making a reasonable suggestion, okay?” Jiang Huai replied with a wronged tone, still not daring to turn his head. After a long while, Bai Li grumbled softly, “It seems… there’s still a little left… but I can’t squeeze it out…”
“Then how about you try grabbing it and taking a lick yourself?”
“I can’t reach… I don’t have a ridiculously good figure like Luo Qingyu…” Bai Li answered aggrievedly, then her white and tender little feet stomped back and forth on Jiang Huai’s back a few more times, “It’s all your fault, all your fault, all your fault!”
“Alright, alright, it’s my fault.”
“Then you… have to take responsibility…”
“This, how can I take responsibility?”
“I didn’t get angry when you fed me the medicine… Shouldn’t you be compensating me now? Besides, this, this is your fault anyway…”
“Wait for me to ponder for a moment.”
“If you’re going to ponder, then you should leave. I’ll… figure something out myself. If all else fails, I’ll ask Qingyu to help me…”
“Then I’ll do it.”
………………………………
“You, you, you, you actually swallowed it?”
“Ah?”
“I, I just asked you to help me get it out, it wasn’t for you to drink! Pervert! Beast! Shameless!” Bai Li’s sense of shame finally exploded at this moment. She lunged forward and tussled with Jiang Huai, almost pinning him beneath her. Her white and tender little hands pressed down on his shoulders, preventing him from getting up. Jiang Huai didn’t know where to look, his head feeling dizzy.
“You like drinking it, do you? Then… you’ll drink it all obediently for me… or else… I won’t forgive you.”
…………………………
On the Spirit Boat, outside the deck.
Luo Qingyu and Wen Wanwan had already bathed together. After bathing, they returned to the same room, seemingly with much to discuss. Chu Xianning sat serenely to the side, gazing at the stars and moon in the sky above, silent as a statue.
Meanwhile, Luo Yueguan was chatting with Bai Jin.
Bai Jin was a demon from the Western Region. The customs and traditions of the Western Region’s demon clan were generally more passionate, unlike the reserved and restrained human clan. In Luo Yueguan’s opinion, Bai Jin’s personality was also like this. She was especially forthright and frankly shared many things about herself. Luo Yueguan listened and chatted along, after all, the Ninth Realm Immortal Venerable was someone whose favor might be of great use later.
As Bai Jin spoke, her body suddenly stiffened slightly.
“What’s wrong?” Luo Yueguan looked at her, somewhat puzzled.
Bai Jin was silent for a moment, then replied, “It’s nothing. It’s just that when I’m close to Bai Li, some of her feelings are transmitted to me.” Bai Jin didn’t hide anything. Seeing Luo Yueguan’s surprised expression, she explained, “It’s like you and Luo Qingyu. Bai Li is my biological daughter, but she doesn’t have a father.”
“Why is that?” Luo Yueguan asked, perplexed.
The reason she had given birth to Luo Qingyu was incredibly despicable, so much so that she didn’t want to mention it to anyone. Bai Jin simply replied faintly, “I was born with a sliver of the ancient Snake Clan’s bloodline inheritance. Therefore, years ago, the Snake Clan collectively pleaded with me, hoping I would continue their bloodline. However, I never felt any affection for any of my kin. Later, all the Snake Clan elders, including the clan leader, knelt down to beg me. In the end, I softened a little and used a secret technique to separate my bloodline into a new life, thus giving birth to Bai Li.”
“I see,” Luo Yueguan nodded gently, understanding. She was just puzzled, “What about Bai Li?”
“It’s nothing. Perhaps she’s playing with Jiang Huai,” Bai Jin replied indifferently, briefly diverting her attention to Bai Li’s perspective. Only then did she fully grasp what they were doing, and she could even hear their conversation.
“So you beat Mu Jiaoyang because of the Overlord Art.”
“Yes and no. It was mainly my amazing sword techniques.”
“Can I practice the Overlord Art too?”
“You can, I can give you the manual, but I don’t recommend it. Not only is it excruciatingly painful, but the cultivation resources needed after the sixth level are quite bizarre. For example, the seventh level requires the first milk of a Seventh Realm demon, and the eighth level requires the Fox Saliva of a fox of Eighth Realm or above. I was rolling on the ground wishing for death from the pain back then…”
“That sounds terrifying. I won’t practice it.”
Bai Jin’s heart stirred. A moment later, she shifted her focus back and asked softly, “What is Jiang Huai’s relationship with my daughter?”
Luo Yueguan paused for a moment, “Perhaps only they know the answer to that question. As far as I know, they are very, very good friends. As for anything else… I’m not sure.”
“Mm, thank you.” Bai Jin nodded gently and raised her wine pot again, pouring a cup for Luo Yueguan. Luo Yueguan didn’t refuse and raised her wine cup to drink with her. After several more cups, Bai Jin stood up, “Then I’ll go rest first.”
Luo Yueguan nodded slightly and watched Bai Jin disappear from sight. Her gaze then moved to Chu Xianning, who was sitting by the deck, quietly gazing at the stars and moon.
“Shall we have two more cups?” Luo Yueguan’s cheeks were already flushed. Chu Xianning looked back at her, her voice calm, “You’ve had too much to drink.”
“Have I?”
“Yes.” Chu Xianning stood up and sat opposite her.
“Have you seen that little girl named Bai Li?” Luo Yueguan asked curiously.
Chu Xianning shook her head, “I know he has such a friend, but I’ve never seen her before.”
“Something is going on between them.” Luo Yueguan’s lips suddenly curved into a smile.
“What makes you say that?” Chu Xianning’s expression remained unchanged.
“I can tell from the way Bai Li looks at Jiang Huai. If a woman likes someone, the affection in her eyes cannot be hidden.” Luo Yueguan’s voice was playful, as if she had discovered some interesting secret. Sadly, Chu Xianning quickly doused her enthusiasm.
“As if you’ve ever liked someone or shown that kind of look to anyone. Do you even understand?”
“Why, just because I haven’t liked a man can’t I understand? How about liking women? Chu Xianning, tell me… you haven’t had a man in hundreds of years anyway, tell me quickly, do you not like men either? How about we just settle for each other?”
“Go to hell.” Chu Xianning’s expression was cold and emotionless.
Luo Yueguan burst into laughter.
The two were truly very, very good friends. Their friendship began with Luo Yueguan constantly pestering Chu Xianning. Chu Xianning was originally cold and unapproachable to everyone, but perhaps because Luo Yueguan persisted for so long, Chu Xianning eventually accepted her. Their friendship had lasted for many, many years, and they understood each other perfectly.
“Do you think I should find a man?” Luo Yueguan leaned back in her chair, her legs crossed beneath her purple Daoist Robe.
“You wouldn’t say that before,” Chu Xianning suddenly looked up, staring seriously at Luo Yueguan. “What are you trying to say?”
“Nothing. I’m just talking nonsense because I’m drunk. You know I hate men the most. The only one I don’t dislike over the years is that little wolf you brought home. He’s quite likable.”
Chu Xianning stared at her seriously for a few more seconds, then slowly said, “I advise you not to harbor any improper thoughts.”
Luo Yueguan’s eyes widened. “What do you mean? Hey, did you misunderstand something? How could I possibly have any feelings for that little guy…”
“I’m just advising you, why are you in such a hurry?” Seeing Luo Yueguan’s reaction, a trace of unease truly arose in Chu Xianning’s heart.
Just as Luo Yueguan understood Chu Xianning perfectly, she also understood Luo Yueguan perfectly.
Many times, Luo Yueguan’s words were designed to test, to find the other person’s bottom line through numerous probes, and then to cross that bottom line through repeated small tests, gradually lowering it until the person became her plaything. This was Luo Yueguan’s art of manipulation. She had even proudly tried to teach it to Chu Xianning. True good friends didn’t hesitate to share their despicable methods, but unfortunately, Chu Xianning disdained such tactics.
She barely interacted with others and preferred to enjoy her own peace and quiet.
“I’m not in a hurry, you are. What, the moment you hear anything about your darling, your brows furrow unconsciously?”
“No.” Chu Xianning’s expression remained completely calm. “I’m just reminding you, you are Luo Qingyu’s mother, and he’s still three months shy of twenty this year, while you’re six hundred years old. You are the Sect Master of Qingxuan Sect, and he’s just an Inner Sect disciple of Tian Xuan Sect. Your perspectives and experiences are vastly different. Perhaps you might feel a slight stir occasionally, but that’s ultimately just an illusion born of prolonged loneliness. Don’t…”
“Why are you suddenly saying so much?” Luo Yueguan interrupted Chu Xianning unreasonably. “Are you still the Chu Xianning who can say one word and is too lazy to say another?”
“You are trying to change the subject to cover up your guilt,” Chu Xianning’s gaze was indifferent as she looked at Luo Yueguan.
“Am I trying to change the subject to cover up my guilt, or were the words you just spoke meant for me as well as yourself?” Luo Yueguan crossed her arms, her eyes filled with playfulness.
“In the end, who is feeling guilty?” Luo Yueguan picked up her wine cup and took a small sip.
“Whoever is feeling guilty knows it in their heart. It’s impossible to argue clearly with your sophistry. You know best what’s in your heart.” Chu Xianning stood up, seemingly unwilling to continue talking with Luo Yueguan. Luo Yueguan also put down her wine cup, “You’re always like this. When you encounter something you don’t want to discuss, you just stop talking and try to escape… Do you really think you can escape for a lifetime?”
“I have never escaped,” Chu Xianning said seriously.
“Come on, do you really not know what Jiang Huai is thinking? You’re just pretending not to know and never have the heart to cruelly reject him, always leaving him with room for hope…”
“I… I rejected him.” Chu Xianning’s voice lacked its usual confidence. “I already arranged a marriage for him when he was fifteen.”
“He was fifteen four years ago. Do you dare say that in these past four years, every time he showed you kindness, you didn’t soften even a little? If you hadn’t softened, he might not have treated you so well all this time.”
“It is a disciple’s duty to show filial piety to their Master. He shows me filial piety, should I intentionally put on a cold face and scold him? That makes no sense.”
“I envy people like you. As long as you can deceive yourself, your Dao heart will always be clear.” Luo Yueguan walked to her side. “Do you dare say that when you heard news of him at the Daoji Ancestral Land, your heart wasn’t stirred? Weren’t you worried?”
“He is my only disciple, shouldn’t I be worried?”
“Then at that time, did you ever consider… Dual Cultivation to heal him and restore his lifespan?”
“You’re really annoying today, Luo Yueguan.” Chu Xianning turned her face away and walked towards her room, seemingly disdainful of continuing to argue with Luo Yueguan.
“Just keep running away… Let’s see how long you can run…” Luo Yueguan laughed wantonly behind her.
Chu Xianning quickened her pace.
